• Real Weddings

Would you believe that the bride hand painted every last sign you see at this wooden sign mint and peach wedding!? In an effort to make their big day meaningful this bride and groom DIYed just about the whole event!
We are completely impressed with this brides ability to plan, execute and enjoy her wedding. Which is why it would be a shame if you missed any of the details she and her new hubby worked so hard on. You can see all of the photos from Whittaker Portraits when you visit the full gallery here!

Deciding On A Color Scheme

From the Bride: One of my favorite things to plan was the color scheme. I knew right away that I wanted dusty shale to be the main color for the bridesmaids’ dresses. I saw it as a unique neutral color, and the dresses were the perfect subtle backdrop for my summery bright flowers.

My florist Shelayne Hammack from Twist Flowers did the most amazing job, especially on the arch and our bouquets. She completely exceeded my expectations in every way! I tried to keep most things in neutral shades—tablecloths, napkins, plates, décor—and let the flowers be the bright pops of color that stood out here and there.

Handmade Wedding Decor

We also made and built a lot of the decorations ourselves, which was a total bonding and learning experience, as it was new for both of us. I hand-lettered everything for the reception, including all the signs, menus, and table numbers. Even though it was a lot of work, I loved seeing the finished product for the first time on the wedding day and knowing that we had made it all happen! 

Sipping On Memories

We got all of our wine from the winery we got engaged at. It was so fun for us to do tastings to decide which wines we wanted to serve at the wedding while getting to relive the magic of the day Brian proposed.

Stress Before, Not During

If I could give future brides few pieces of practical advice, I would say work hard before the wedding so you can enjoy yourself on the day of and the days leading up to it.

Venue: $4,500
DJ: $1,200
Photography: $3,300
Videography: $1,700
Florist: $1,200
Catering: $3,300
Bartending: $150
Decorations: $400 (bought secondhand, borrowed, or purchased supplies to make myself)
Coordinating: $300 (family friend)
Alterations: $600*
Hair and makeup: $300
Rentals: $500 (plates, chairs, tablecloths)
Drinks: $1,380
Invitations: $450
Cake: $475
Bridal party gifts: $240
Wedding dress: $2,100*
Bridal accessories: $140
Groom’s suit: $200
Wedding bands: $1,000
Sparklers: $150
Miscellaneous costs: $450
TOTAL: 24,035

*I paid for two wedding dresses and two alterations so these are the combined prices. Christina also might’ve had outdated information on the wedding dress since I had to buy a new one on such short notice. The dress was Mori Lee 2713 and it was purchased from Elegant Lace Bridal.
Alteration Mishap:
I wish I hadn’t tried to save money on alterations! Since wedding dresses are already so expensive, I tried to take my dress to a cheaper seamstress unaffiliated with a bridal store. She ended up not starting my alterations until a week before the wedding and then botched the dress to the point where it couldn’t be repaired. I had to buy a completely new dress 5 days before the wedding! My attempt to save a little money was SO not worth the crazy stress and extra money it ended up costing me to buy and alter a new dress on such short notice.
The good news is that I actually loved the second dress even more than the first! My advice would be to realize that with alterations, you’ll probably get what you pay for, and it’s not worth the risk for something that completely affects how you look and feel on such an important day!

• Beauty: The Blushing Bombshell
• Cakes & Catering: Golden Harvest Catering
• Event Planning & Design: Trudy Parker | Cakes & Catering: Cathy Lines
• Fashion: Bay Area Bridal
• Flowers: Twist Flowers
• Groom & His Men: Men's Warhorse
• Groom & His Men: J. Crew
• Rentals: Fine Linen Creations
• Venues & Officiants: Shadelands Ranch Museum